The Role of Sense of Ownership in Rural Community Mini-Grid Management: Case Study from Tanzania

Introduction

This page summarises the open-access article by Mkumbo et al. (2024), published in Energy, Sustainability and Society, which investigates how a community’s sense of ownership influences the performance, sustainability, and management of rural mini-grids in Tanzania. The study highlights social, institutional, and behavioural factors beyond technical and financial design that determine long-term success.

Background

Mini-grids are widely promoted to achieve rural electrification in Sub-Saharan Africa. While much attention has been given to technical design, financing, and tariffs, this study stresses that the "sense of ownership" held by community members can strongly affect how well systems are maintained, managed, and sustained.

Methodology

Qualitative case study approach: fieldwork in rural Tanzanian communities with operational mini-grids. Semi-structured interviews and focus groups with users, operators, and local leaders. Analysis focused on perceived ownership, decision-making, and participation in daily operations.

Key Findings

Ownership as motivation: When community members felt the system was "theirs," they were more likely to participate in maintenance, pay fees, and prevent theft/vandalism. Exclusion reduces sustainability: Lack of involvement in planning or governance created disengagement, leading to poor fee collection and reduced system upkeep. Hybrid management: Systems combining community involvement with professional management performed best. Full community management without external support struggled technically. Social equity: Sense of ownership was weaker where benefits were unevenly distributed, e.g., when only wealthier households could afford connections.

Practical Implications

Policy: Electrification programs should integrate participatory governance models, ensuring users are involved in design and decision-making. Project design: Incorporate community engagement and shared decision processes early, not only at commissioning. Sustainability: Hybrid approaches (professional operators + community structures) balance technical reliability with social legitimacy. Equity: Tariff structures and connection subsidies should avoid excluding low-income households, as inclusivity strengthens community ownership.

Conclusions

The Tanzanian case study demonstrates that technology and financing alone cannot guarantee mini-grid success. Embedding social ownership principles into governance and operations increases acceptance, payment compliance, and system longevity.

Further Reading

Mkumbo, E., van der Plas, R., Wüstenhagen, R. (2024). The role of sense of ownership in rural community mini-grid management: qualitative case study from Tanzania. Energy, Sustainability and Society, 14:16. DOI link

Attribution & Licence

This page summarises material from Mkumbo et al. (2024). The original article is open access and licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence (CC BY 4.0).